Former UMS pitcher Tucker Ward signs with La. Tech

Former UMS-Wright pitcher Tucker Ward, who played his first season of college baseball at Faulkner State Community College, has signed a scholarship offer from Louisiana Tech.

Former UMS pitcher Tucker Ward, who played last year at Faulkner State Community College, has signed a scholarship offer to pitch for La. Tech. (Press-Register file photo)

Ward, a 6-foot-6, 245-pound right-hander, is the son of Mobile BayBears manager and former big leaguer Turner Ward.

The Saraland native was spotted by Louisiana Tech coaches this summer when he took part in the Coastal Plains League, a summer collegiate program.

"He went over to Faulkner for his first year, and we expected him to be there for a couple of years," Turner Ward said. "Coach (Wayne) Larker and that program have been great. Tucker went up to Columbia, South Carolina, and played in the Coastal Plains League, and while he was up there he was seen by different people, and Louisiana Tech came in and made him a really good offer, really an offer he felt like he couldn't refuse."

The main offer Louisiana Tech made to Ward was the very thing he was seeking: a chance to play Division I baseball.

"I'm really excited about the opportunity of going there and playing against high competition and seeing where I'm at with that," Tucker Ward said. "Most importantly, I want to win while I'm there."

In his only season at Faulkner, Ward appeared in 13 games and posted a 4-4 record. Turner Ward said his son started the season strong, struggled a bit later, but finished well. The Coastal Plains League then allowed him the chance to further develop against good competition.

"He's found his control and his velocity is getting back up, so he's starting to learn how to pitch more and more," the elder Ward said.

"Louisiana Tech is in the WAC this year and next year they'll be in Conference USA, so it gives him an opportunity to play Division I baseball and now to have a lot of eyes see him in different parts of the country, which is good. He wants to progress further than the college level, and if he keeps progressing and getting better, he should get that opportunity."

The year at Faulkner was as important to him as the summer in South Carolina, Tucker Ward said.

"It helped me a ton. Coach Larker, he did a lot for me," he said. "He really worked with me on the mental side of things and he taught me how to be in shape. He taught me what I have to do to have my body in shape to play a long season like we do. I just learned a lot from him."

In South Carolina, Ward extended his education about the game.

"We played 56 games this summer. We were playing every day," Ward said. "I had a lot of appearances on the mound and got to pitch a lot. I was able to work on my mechanics and I learned that if you keep working hard that's going to pay off."

He said he was pushed throughout the summer by a Bible verse: "Whatever you do, do it with all your heart."

"That was kind of my goal this summer, to keep working hard and pitch and keep striving for a goal," Ward said.

He leaves for Louisiana Tech on Thursday, with classes set to begin on Sept. 6.

"I can't wait. When I went down for my visit, I loved the campus, and I'm ready to get back down there," he said.